Donor Connection: Phylanice and Turner Nashe

Giving is a deeply personal endeavor shaped by our values, experiences, and aspirations.

Whether we donate to charitable causes, volunteer our time and skills, or provide support to those in need, each act of giving carries a profound personal significance.

Phylanice and Turner Nashe exemplify this personal connection to giving. As life partners and business associates for nearly 30 years, their philanthropic journey reflects their shared values and experiences. Their journey began unexpectedly and has evolved, paralleling their personal growth and commitment to positively impacting their community.

Dr. Turner Nashe Jr., born in 1974 in Cleveland, Ohio, navigated a challenging upbringing in a city hit hard by the decline of the U.S. steel industry and the onset of the crack epidemic. Despite these obstacles, Turner stayed focused and pursued higher education, achieving early financial success in real estate. Turner opened and operated a mortgage banking business across seven states, and Nashville in 2006. Then came the financial market crash in 2008.

As credit markets were locked up, Turner was unable to operate his mortgage business. Nor was he able to apply for any loans or financial assistance other than a student loan, he took the opportunity to earn his Masters and then a Doctorate in Educational Administration and supervision from Tennessee State University. In 2009, Turner would encounter a hurdle that would forever shape the trajectory of his career. He was indicted, with dozens of others, in a mortgage fraud case in Ohio.

Turner delved into research on prison statistics and education as part of his doctorate studies, recognizing the disparities faced by communities of color and the potential of education in reducing recidivism rates. Proposing an innovative solution, he founded CorrectionED through his company, Innertainment Delivery Systems (IDS), providing inmates access to online courses directly on tablets.

He maintained his innocence during the eighteen months of pretrials. As he walked into the courtroom to begin his trial, he was notified in the moment, that the charges were dropped without prejudice. He felt that this injustice to him, could be happening to thousands of others like him. This need for a “leveling of the playing field” started with education and went on to fuel his determination to fight injustices within the system re: prison reform.

A few years later after much success, Turner and Phylanice sold IDS. The sale provided the financial resources and tax incentive to open the Nashe Family Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT).

“What we found at the Community Foundation was a singular source that offered us an opportunity to make as many distributions as we wanted without having to do the administrative work,” said Turner. “It blended the ability for us to follow our passion for helping the community while reducing the administrative function that we did not like so much.”

The Nashe Family Advised Fund has benefited a myriad of nonprofits. Wanting to be intentional in their donating, Turner and Phylanice decided to focus on four major pillars of giving: entrepreneurship, education, criminal justice reform, and most recently Black art.

“These four pillars have been our guideposts for where the majority of our decisions lie,” said Phylanice. “We are trying to make meaningful impacts within the Black community. We are trying to fill gaps where funding may be lacking for different organizations.”

Donations from the Fund have supported grants to organizations such as the Raphah Institute and Nashville Health, a Christmas toy drive for Impact Youth Outreach, Inc., Juneteenth fireworks for the African American Cultural Alliance, a shareholder Luncheon Grant for Leaderships Nashville Foundation, The Frist Art Museum exhibition: Multiplicity, among many other initiatives.

In 2023, Turner and Phylanice bought championship rings for Pearl Cohn High School football players to commemorate their undefeated season and Class 4A championship win, the first for a Metro Nashville Public School (MNPS) team since 2008. Initially, they considered celebrating with a parade or pep rally, but they decided that a lasting symbol of the players’ hard work and victory would be more meaningful than a fleeting memory.

“These rings are a symbol of success. They will be something that the players, PHS students,  neighbors and children throughout the city can see,” said Turner. “So for that reason, we as a team — myself, Phylanice, Pearl Cohn, and MNPS —decided that this would be a great way to mark the occasion and leave something for the students to have for the rest of their lives.”

Following the establishment of the Nashe Family Advised Fund, Turner and Phylanice continued their philanthropic efforts by creating the Bridge to Resource Partnership Fund in 2018.

Black business owners continue to face disparities in funding, as they are less likely than white applicants to receive funding from traditional financial institutions. Turner and Phylanice experienced this first-hand when they were unable to secure traditional funding from several Nahsville banks for a business venture, despite having acquired guaranteed government contracts for an eight-figure deal.

After overcoming these hurdles, they decided to invest in Black entrepreneurs in Middle Tennessee, and the Bridge to Resource Partnership Fund was born. This Fund aims to support the development of new resources and increase connected networks available to “Main Street” entrepreneurs in Nashville.

“Phylanice and I decided we didn’t want people to have to go through what we went through,” said Turner. “If you need a small bump to get to the next phase of your business, we want to help you.

“We all suffer from is a lack of access, lack of information, and lack of opportunities,” Turner continued. “Those are the three things we fight for all the time. We have businesses in Nashville, which are so very worthy  and exciting in the Black community, but we don’t get access to those opportunities to thrive.”

Since her retirement in 2020, Phylanice has dedicated herself to community engagement that aligns with her intellectual and philanthropic interests. Her involvement extends to serving on the board of the Nashville Symphony and chairing the advocacy committee at YWCA. She is also a valued member of the curatorial committee of the National Museum of African American Music. Additionally, Phylanice is an esteemed participant in Leadership Nashville, a platform that has broadened her community impact. Most recently, the Nashville Business Journal recognized her as one of their Woman of Influence in 2024, specifically in the category of mentorship and inspiration.

“I’m very thankful for the individual who nominated me for the award,” said Phylanice. “That’s where I love to spend my time. Mentoring women who are coming up through the ranks of entrepreneurship.”

The story of Phylanice and Turner Nashe exemplifies the profound personal connection to giving. Their journey, rooted in shared values and experiences, has been a testament to their commitment to positively impact their community. Their efforts also extend to passing their generosity onto their children, aiming to grow generational wealth and continue their legacy.

The Nashe’s journey emphasizes the importance of every act of generosity, showcasing its power to create meaningful change and reflect our deepest values and aspirations.